REPORT

The “Hakuba International Classic,” one of Japan’s largest trail running events, took place on 9/13 (Sun.). The 29 km Solo race, which served as the final round of the “NIPPON TRAIL RUNNING GRAND PRIX SERIES,” also drew a number of guest runners, including professional mountain runner Yuri Yoshizumi (pictured, fifth from right).
[Happo No. 2 Parking Lot]

I met two runners competing in the 29 km Pair division (pictured), who told me, “We’re starting from the very back and taking it easy!” A total of 2,628 runners entered this year’s event across the 50 km Solo & Pair, 29 km Solo & Pair, 12 km Solo & Pair, and 6 km Solo (elementary school students) & Family (elementary school student + parent/guardian) divisions. Although the forecast called for cloudy skies followed by rain, there were even a few glimpses of blue sky during the day.
[Hakuba Iwatake]

Runners in the 50 km, 29 km, and 12 km races crossed Hakuba Ohashi Bridge (second photo) soon after the start before climbing to the summit of Hakuba Iwatake. From there, they descended through the base area of Iwatake (pictured), with the 12 km runners finishing at the Happo No. 2 Parking Lot. The 29 km course continued on to Happo, climbing from the Kokusai Slope to Kurobishi-daira before passing the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and returning to the finish at the Happo No. 2 Parking Lot.
[Around Hakuba Iwatake]

The 6 km course crossed the lower slopes of Happo through the Kokusai, Shirakaba, and Nakiyama areas, passed in front of the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium, and finished at the Happo No. 2 Parking Lot. The 50 km race, the longest of the event, followed an especially demanding route from Iwatake into the mountains east of Hakuba, then climbed along the Hira River to the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium (pictured). From there, runners faced another long climb through Happo to Kurobishi-daira before heading back to the finish. The “Hakuba Summer Jump Competition” was also taking place at the ski jumping stadium that day, and spectators cheered on runners from the Hakuba International Classic as they passed through.
[Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium]

　
*Milky Queen rice grown in Hakuba Village was also nearing harvest along the course. Advance reservations for the 2026 crop as a Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) gift began on 9/10 (Thu.).
*Those wishing to receive entry to events such as the Hakuba International Classic as a Furusato Nozei gift can apply through Furusato Seikatsu.
*Furusato Nozei is a system that allows people to make donations to their hometown or another municipality they wish to support. In addition to receiving gifts worth roughly 30% of the donation amount, donors may also receive reductions in resident tax and refunds on income tax.
*Furusato Nozei Report Series 2026–2027 (* newest entries listed first) → Hakuba International Classic, Hakuba Activities, Hakuba Station-Area Shopping, Pt. 3, Hakuba Station-Area Shopping, Pt. 2, Hakuba Station-Area Shopping, Pt. 1, Teiitsu Festival, Pt. 2, Teiitsu Festival, Pt. 1, Hakuba Sweets

*Request for the original data of our photographs
　
reported by Snownavi